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Salerno D, Peruzzi G, Giuseppe Rubens Pascucci, Levrero M, Belloni L, Pediconi N. miRNA-27a-3p is involved in the plasticity of differentiated hepatocytes. Gene 2024; 913:148387. [PMID: 38499211 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2024.148387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and chromatin remodeling, are highly involved in the regulation of hepatocyte viability, proliferation, and plasticity. We have previously demonstrated that repression of H3K27 methylation in differentiated hepatic HepaRG cells by treatment with GSK-J4, an inhibitor of JMJD3 and UTX H3K27 demethylase activity, changed their phenotype, inducing differentiated hepatocytes to proliferate. In addition to the epigenetic enzymatic role in the regulation of the retro-differentiation process, emerging evidence indicate that microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in controlling hepatocyte proliferation during liver regeneration. Hence, the aim of this work is to investigate the impact of H3K27 methylation on miRNAs expression profile and its role in the regulation of the differentiation status of human hepatic progenitors HepaRG cells. METHODS A miRNA-sequencing was carried out in differentiated HepaRG cells treated or not with GSK-J4. Target searching and Gene Ontology analysis were performed to identify the molecular processes modulated by differentially expressed miRNAs. The biological functions of selected miRNAs was further investigated by transfection of miRNAs inhibitors or mimics in differentiated HepaRG cells followed by qPCR analysis, albumin ELISA assay, CD49a FACS analysis and EdU staining. RESULTS We identified 12 miRNAs modulated by GSK-J4; among these, miR-27a-3p and miR- 423-5p influenced the expression of several proliferation genes in differentiated HepaRG cells. MiR-27a-3p overexpression increased the number of hepatic cells reentering proliferation. Interestingly, both miR-27a-3p and miR-423-5p did not affect the expression levels of genes involved in the differentiation of progenitors HepaRG cells. CONCLUSIONS Modulation of H3K27me3 methylation in differentiated HepaRG cells, by GSK-J4 treatment, influenced miRNA' s expression profile pushing liver cells towards a proliferating phenotype. We demonstrated the involvement of miR-27a-3p in reinducing proliferation of differentiated hepatocytes suggesting a potential role in liver plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debora Salerno
- Dept. of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy; Center for Life Nano & Neuro Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanna Peruzzi
- Center for Life Nano & Neuro Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Rubens Pascucci
- Research Unit of Clinical Immunology and Vaccinology, Academic Department of Pediatrics, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy; Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Italy
| | - Massimo Levrero
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon (CRCL), INSERM U1052, CNRS UMR5286, Lyon, France
| | - Laura Belloni
- Center for Life Nano & Neuro Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy; Dept. of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Translational Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Giorgio Nicola Papanicolau, 00189 Rome, Italy.
| | - Natalia Pediconi
- Center for Life Nano & Neuro Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy; Dept. of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy.
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Pulito C, Mori F, Sacconi A, Goeman F, Ferraiuolo M, Pasanisi P, Campagnoli C, Berrino F, Fanciulli M, Ford RJ, Levrero M, Pediconi N, Ciuffreda L, Milella M, Steinberg GR, Cioce M, Muti P, Strano S, Blandino G. Author Correction: Metformin-induced ablation of microRNA 21-5p releases Sestrin-1 and CAB39L antitumoral activities. Cell Discov 2024; 10:29. [PMID: 38480687 PMCID: PMC10937647 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-024-00655-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Claudio Pulito
- Molecular Chemoprevention Unit, Italian National Cancer Institute 'Regina Elena', Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Mori
- Molecular Chemoprevention Unit, Italian National Cancer Institute 'Regina Elena', Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Sacconi
- Oncogenomic and Epigenetic Unit, Italian National Cancer Institute 'Regina Elena', Rome, Italy
| | - Frauke Goeman
- Oncogenomic and Epigenetic Unit, Italian National Cancer Institute 'Regina Elena', Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Ferraiuolo
- Molecular Chemoprevention Unit, Italian National Cancer Institute 'Regina Elena', Rome, Italy
| | - Patrizia Pasanisi
- Department of Preventive & Predictive Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Carlo Campagnoli
- Unit of Endocrinological Gynecology, Ospedale Sant'Anna di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Franco Berrino
- Department of Preventive & Predictive Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Rebecca J Ford
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Massimo Levrero
- Epigénétique et Épigénomique des Carcinomes Hépathocellulaires Viro-Induits du Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Natalia Pediconi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Ludovica Ciuffreda
- Division of Medical Oncology A, Italian National Cancer Institute 'Regina Elena', Rome, Italy
| | - Michele Milella
- Division of Medical Oncology A, Italian National Cancer Institute 'Regina Elena', Rome, Italy
| | - Gregory R Steinberg
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Mario Cioce
- Oncogenomic and Epigenetic Unit, Italian National Cancer Institute 'Regina Elena', Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Muti
- Department of Oncology, Juravinski Cancer Center, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Sabrina Strano
- Molecular Chemoprevention Unit, Italian National Cancer Institute 'Regina Elena', Rome, Italy.
- Department of Oncology, Juravinski Cancer Center, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
| | - Giovanni Blandino
- Oncogenomic and Epigenetic Unit, Italian National Cancer Institute 'Regina Elena', Rome, Italy.
- Department of Oncology, Juravinski Cancer Center, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
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Pediconi N, Gigante Y, Cama S, Pitea M, Mautone L, Ruocco G, Ghirga S, Di Angelantonio S. Retinal fingerprints of ALS in patients: Ganglion cell apoptosis and TDP-43/p62 misplacement. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1110520. [PMID: 37009460 PMCID: PMC10061015 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1110520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
IntroductionAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by the progressive loss of motor neuron function. Although ophthalmic deficits are not considered a classic symptom of ALS, recent studies suggest that changes in retinal cells, similar to those in the spinal cord motor neurons, have been observed in postmortem human tissues and animal models.MethodsIn this study, we examined by immunofluorescence analysis the retinal cell layers of sporadic ALS patients in post-mortem retinal slices. We evaluated the presence of cytoplasmic TDP-43 and SQSTM1/p62 aggregates, activation of the apoptotic pathway, and microglia and astrocytes reactivity.ResultsWe found in the retinal ganglion cell layer of ALS patients the increase of mislocalized TDP-43, SQSTM1/p62 aggregates, activation of cleaved caspase-3, and microglia density, suggesting that retinal changes can be used as an additional diagnostic tool for ALS.DiscussionThe retina is considered part of the central nervous system, and neurodegenerative changes in the brain may be accompanied by structural and possibly functional changes in the neuroretina and ocular vasculature. Therefore, using in vivo retinal biomarkers as an additional diagnostic tool for ALS may provide an opportunity to longitudinally monitor individuals and therapies over time in a noninvasive and cost-effective manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Pediconi
- Center for Life Nano- and Neuro-Science of Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Rome, Italy
| | - Ylenia Gigante
- Center for Life Nano- and Neuro-Science of Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Rome, Italy
- D-Tails s.r.l., Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Cama
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Martina Pitea
- Center for Life Nano- and Neuro-Science of Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Rome, Italy
- D-Tails s.r.l., Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenza Mautone
- Center for Life Nano- and Neuro-Science of Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Rome, Italy
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Ruocco
- Center for Life Nano- and Neuro-Science of Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Rome, Italy
- Department of Physics, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Ghirga
- Center for Life Nano- and Neuro-Science of Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Rome, Italy
- Silvia Ghirga,
| | - Silvia Di Angelantonio
- Center for Life Nano- and Neuro-Science of Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Rome, Italy
- D-Tails s.r.l., Rome, Italy
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Silvia Di Angelantonio,
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Di Angelantonio S, Pediconi N, Mautone L, Pitea M, Grimaldi A. Astrocyte activation and protein aggregation in the retina of Alzheimer's disease patients. Acta Ophthalmol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2022.15410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
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Cordella F, Sanchini C, Rosito M, Ferrucci L, Pediconi N, Cortese B, Guerrieri F, Pascucci GR, Antonangeli F, Peruzzi G, Giubettini M, Basilico B, Pagani F, Grimaldi A, D’Alessandro G, Limatola C, Ragozzino D, Di Angelantonio S. Antibiotics Treatment Modulates Microglia-Synapses Interaction. Cells 2021; 10:cells10102648. [PMID: 34685628 PMCID: PMC8534187 DOI: 10.3390/cells10102648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
‘Dysbiosis’ of the adult gut microbiota, in response to challenges such as infection, altered diet, stress, and antibiotics treatment has been recently linked to pathological alteration of brain function and behavior. Moreover, gut microbiota composition constantly controls microglia maturation, as revealed by morphological observations and gene expression analysis. However, it is unclear whether microglia functional properties and crosstalk with neurons, known to shape and modulate synaptic development and function, are influenced by the gut microbiota. Here, we investigated how antibiotic-mediated alteration of the gut microbiota influences microglial and neuronal functions in adult mice hippocampus. Hippocampal microglia from adult mice treated with oral antibiotics exhibited increased microglia density, altered basal patrolling activity, and impaired process rearrangement in response to damage. Patch clamp recordings at CA3-CA1 synapses revealed that antibiotics treatment alters neuronal functions, reducing spontaneous postsynaptic glutamatergic currents and decreasing synaptic connectivity, without reducing dendritic spines density. Antibiotics treatment was unable to modulate synaptic function in CX3CR1-deficient mice, pointing to an involvement of microglia–neuron crosstalk through the CX3CL1/CX3CR1 axis in the effect of dysbiosis on neuronal functions. Together, our findings show that antibiotic alteration of gut microbiota impairs synaptic efficacy, suggesting that CX3CL1/CX3CR1 signaling supporting microglia is a major player in in the gut–brain axis, and in particular in the gut microbiota-to-neuron communication pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Cordella
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology “V. Erspamer”, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy; (F.C.); (C.S.); (L.F.); (B.B.); (G.D.); (D.R.)
- Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 00161 Rome, Italy; (N.P.); (G.P.); (F.P.); (A.G.)
| | - Caterina Sanchini
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology “V. Erspamer”, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy; (F.C.); (C.S.); (L.F.); (B.B.); (G.D.); (D.R.)
- Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 00161 Rome, Italy; (N.P.); (G.P.); (F.P.); (A.G.)
| | - Maria Rosito
- Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 00161 Rome, Italy; (N.P.); (G.P.); (F.P.); (A.G.)
- Correspondence: (M.R.); (S.D.A.)
| | - Laura Ferrucci
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology “V. Erspamer”, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy; (F.C.); (C.S.); (L.F.); (B.B.); (G.D.); (D.R.)
| | - Natalia Pediconi
- Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 00161 Rome, Italy; (N.P.); (G.P.); (F.P.); (A.G.)
| | - Barbara Cortese
- National Research Council-Nanotechnology Institute, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Francesca Guerrieri
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon (CRCL), UMR Inserm U1052/CNRS 5286, 69373 Lyon, France; (F.G.); (G.R.P.)
| | - Giuseppe Rubens Pascucci
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon (CRCL), UMR Inserm U1052/CNRS 5286, 69373 Lyon, France; (F.G.); (G.R.P.)
| | - Fabrizio Antonangeli
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Giovanna Peruzzi
- Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 00161 Rome, Italy; (N.P.); (G.P.); (F.P.); (A.G.)
| | | | - Bernadette Basilico
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology “V. Erspamer”, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy; (F.C.); (C.S.); (L.F.); (B.B.); (G.D.); (D.R.)
| | - Francesca Pagani
- Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 00161 Rome, Italy; (N.P.); (G.P.); (F.P.); (A.G.)
- National Research Council-Nanotechnology Institute, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Alfonso Grimaldi
- Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 00161 Rome, Italy; (N.P.); (G.P.); (F.P.); (A.G.)
| | - Giuseppina D’Alessandro
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology “V. Erspamer”, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy; (F.C.); (C.S.); (L.F.); (B.B.); (G.D.); (D.R.)
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Cristina Limatola
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy;
- IRCCS Neuromed, Via Atinese 18, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy
| | - Davide Ragozzino
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology “V. Erspamer”, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy; (F.C.); (C.S.); (L.F.); (B.B.); (G.D.); (D.R.)
- Santa Lucia Foundation, European Center for Brain Research, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Di Angelantonio
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology “V. Erspamer”, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy; (F.C.); (C.S.); (L.F.); (B.B.); (G.D.); (D.R.)
- Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 00161 Rome, Italy; (N.P.); (G.P.); (F.P.); (A.G.)
- Correspondence: (M.R.); (S.D.A.)
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Pediconi N, Ghirga F, Del Plato C, Peruzzi G, Athanassopoulos CM, Mori M, Crestoni ME, Corinti D, Ugozzoli F, Massera C, Arcovito A, Botta B, Boffi A, Quaglio D, Baiocco P. Design and Synthesis of Piperazine-Based Compounds Conjugated to Humanized Ferritin as Delivery System of siRNA in Cancer Cells. Bioconjug Chem 2021; 32:1105-1116. [PMID: 33978420 PMCID: PMC8253483 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.1c00137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Gene expression regulation by small interfering RNA (siRNA) holds promise in treating a wide range of diseases through selective gene silencing. However, successful clinical application of nucleic acid-based therapy requires novel delivery options. Herein, to achieve efficient delivery of negatively charged siRNA duplexes, the internal cavity of "humanized" chimeric Archaeal ferritin (HumAfFt) was specifically decorated with novel cationic piperazine-based compounds (PAs). By coupling these rigid-rod-like amines with thiol-reactive reagents, chemoselective conjugation was efficiently afforded on topologically selected cysteine residues properly located inside HumAfFt. The capability of PAs-HumAfFt to host and deliver siRNA molecules through human transferrin receptor (TfR1), overexpressed in many cancer cells, was explored. These systems allowed siRNA delivery into HeLa, HepG2, and MCF-7 cancer cells with improved silencing effect on glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) gene expression with respect to traditional transfection methodologies and provided a promising TfR1-targeting system for multifunctional siRNA delivery to therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Pediconi
- Center
for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science, Fondazione
Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), V.le Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Ghirga
- Department
of Chemistry and Technology of Drugs, “Department of Excellence
2018−2022”, Sapienza University
of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Cristina Del Plato
- Center
for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science, Fondazione
Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), V.le Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
- Department
of Chemistry and Technology of Drugs, “Department of Excellence
2018−2022”, Sapienza University
of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanna Peruzzi
- Center
for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science, Fondazione
Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), V.le Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Constantinos M. Athanassopoulos
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Patras, GR-26504 Rio-Patras, Greece
- Department
of Biochemical Sciences “Alessandro Rossi Fanelli”, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Mattia Mori
- Department
of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, “Department of Excellence
2018−2022”, University of
Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Maria Elisa Crestoni
- Department
of Chemistry and Technology of Drugs, “Department of Excellence
2018−2022”, Sapienza University
of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Davide Corinti
- Department
of Chemistry and Technology of Drugs, “Department of Excellence
2018−2022”, Sapienza University
of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Franco Ugozzoli
- Department
of Engineering and Architecture, University
of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 181/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Chiara Massera
- Department
of Chemical Sciences, Life and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 17/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Alessandro Arcovito
- Dipartimento
di Scienze Biotecnologiche di base, Cliniche Intensivologiche e Perioperatorie, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo F. Vito 1, 00168, Roma, Italy
| | - Bruno Botta
- Department
of Chemistry and Technology of Drugs, “Department of Excellence
2018−2022”, Sapienza University
of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Boffi
- Center
for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science, Fondazione
Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), V.le Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
- Department
of Biochemical Sciences “Alessandro Rossi Fanelli”, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
- Institute
of Molecular Biology and Pathology, National
Research Council, P.le
A. Moro 7, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Deborah Quaglio
- Department
of Chemistry and Technology of Drugs, “Department of Excellence
2018−2022”, Sapienza University
of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Baiocco
- Center
for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science, Fondazione
Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), V.le Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
- Department
of Biochemical Sciences “Alessandro Rossi Fanelli”, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
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Pizzarelli R, Pediconi N, Di Angelantonio S. Molecular Imaging of Tau Protein: New Insights and Future Directions. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 13:586169. [PMID: 33384582 PMCID: PMC7769805 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2020.586169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tau is a microtubule-associated protein (MAPT) that is highly expressed in neurons and implicated in several cellular processes. Tau misfolding and self-aggregation give rise to proteinaceous deposits known as neuro-fibrillary tangles. Tau tangles play a key role in the genesis of a group of diseases commonly referred to as tauopathies; notably, these aggregates start to form decades before any clinical symptoms manifest. Advanced imaging methodologies have clarified important structural and functional aspects of tau and could have a role as diagnostic tools in clinical research. In the present review, recent progresses in tau imaging will be discussed. We will focus mainly on super-resolution imaging methods and the development of near-infrared fluorescent probes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rocco Pizzarelli
- Center for Life Nanoscience, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Rome, Italy
| | - Natalia Pediconi
- Center for Life Nanoscience, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Di Angelantonio
- Center for Life Nanoscience, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Rome, Italy.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
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8
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Miele E, Po A, Mastronuzzi A, Carai A, Besharat ZM, Pediconi N, Abballe L, Catanzaro G, Sabato C, De Smaele E, Canettieri G, Di Marcotullio L, Vacca A, Mai A, Levrero M, Pfister SM, Kool M, Giangaspero F, Locatelli F, Ferretti E. Downregulation of miR-326 and its host gene β-arrestin1 induces pro-survival activity of E2F1 and promotes medulloblastoma growth. Mol Oncol 2020; 15:523-542. [PMID: 32920979 PMCID: PMC7858128 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Persistent mortality rates of medulloblastoma (MB) and severe side effects of the current therapies require the definition of the molecular mechanisms that contribute to tumor progression. Using cultured MB cancer stem cells and xenograft tumors generated in mice, we show that low expression of miR-326 and its host gene β-arrestin1 (ARRB1) promotes tumor growth enhancing the E2F1 pro-survival function. Our models revealed that miR-326 and ARRB1 are controlled by a bivalent domain, since the H3K27me3 repressive mark is found at their regulatory region together with the activation-associated H3K4me3 mark. High levels of EZH2, a feature of MB, are responsible for the presence of H3K27me3. Ectopic expression of miR-326 and ARRB1 provides hints into how their low levels regulate E2F1 activity. MiR-326 targets E2F1 mRNA, thereby reducing its protein levels; ARRB1, triggering E2F1 acetylation, reverses its function into pro-apoptotic activity. Similar to miR-326 and ARRB1 overexpression, we also show that EZH2 inhibition restores miR-326/ARRB1 expression, limiting E2F1 pro-proliferative activity. Our results reveal a new regulatory molecular axis critical for MB progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelina Miele
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Agnese Po
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Mastronuzzi
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Carai
- Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Natalia Pediconi
- Center for Life NanoScience@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | - Luana Abballe
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Claudia Sabato
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico De Smaele
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Alessandra Vacca
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonello Mai
- Department of Chemistry and Technologies of Drugs, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Levrero
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon (CRCL), UMR Inserm 1052 CNRS 5286 Mixte CLB, Université de Lyon 1 (UCBL1), France.,Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefan M Pfister
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Immunology, University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.,Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marcel Kool
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany.,Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Felice Giangaspero
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Science, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy
| | - Franco Locatelli
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.,Department of Maternal Infantile and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
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9
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Angelantonio SD, Pizzarelli R, Pediconi N, Rosito M, Greco FL, Grimaldi A, Giubettini M. Neuroinflammatory processes, A1 astrocyte activation and protein aggregation in the retina of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson's disease patients: Possible biomarkers for early diagnosis. Alzheimers Dement 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/alz.045096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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10
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Grimaldi A, Pediconi N, Oieni F, Pizzarelli R, Rosito M, Giubettini M, Santini T, Limatola C, Ruocco G, Ragozzino D, Di Angelantonio S. Neuroinflammatory Processes, A1 Astrocyte Activation and Protein Aggregation in the Retina of Alzheimer's Disease Patients, Possible Biomarkers for Early Diagnosis. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:925. [PMID: 31551688 PMCID: PMC6737046 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a primary cause of dementia in the aging population, is characterized by extracellular amyloid-beta peptides aggregation, intracellular deposits of hyperphosphorylated tau, neurodegeneration and glial activation in the brain. It is commonly thought that the lack of early diagnostic criteria is among the main causes of pharmacological therapy and clinical trials failure; therefore, the actual challenge is to define new biomarkers and non-invasive technologies to measure neuropathological changes in vivo at pre-symptomatic stages. Recent evidences obtained from human samples and mouse models indicate the possibility to detect protein aggregates and other pathological features in the retina, paving the road for non-invasive rapid detection of AD biomarkers. Here, we report the presence of amyloid beta plaques, tau tangles, neurodegeneration and detrimental astrocyte and microglia activation according to a disease associated microglia phenotype (DAM). Thus, we propose the human retina as a useful site for the detection of cellular and molecular changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfonso Grimaldi
- Center for Life Nanoscience, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | - Natalia Pediconi
- Center for Life Nanoscience, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Oieni
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Rocco Pizzarelli
- Center for Life Nanoscience, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Rosito
- Center for Life Nanoscience, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Tiziana Santini
- Center for Life Nanoscience, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | - Cristina Limatola
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Ruocco
- Center for Life Nanoscience, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy.,Department of Physics, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Davide Ragozzino
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy
| | - Silvia Di Angelantonio
- Center for Life Nanoscience, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
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11
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Di Cocco S, Belloni L, Nunn AD, Salerno D, Piconese S, Levrero M, Pediconi N. Inducing and Characterizing Vesicular Steatosis in Differentiated HepaRG Cells. J Vis Exp 2019. [DOI: 10.3791/59843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
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12
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Pulito C, Mori F, Sacconi A, Goeman F, Ferraiuolo M, Pasanisi P, Campagnoli C, Berrino F, Fanciulli M, Ford RJ, Levrero M, Pediconi N, Ciuffreda L, Milella M, Steinberg GR, Cioce M, Muti P, Strano S, Blandino G. Metformin-induced ablation of microRNA 21-5p releases Sestrin-1 and CAB39L antitumoral activities. Cell Discov 2017; 3:17022. [PMID: 28698800 PMCID: PMC5501975 DOI: 10.1038/celldisc.2017.22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2017] [Revised: 05/05/2017] [Accepted: 06/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Metformin is a commonly prescribed type II diabetes medication that exhibits promising anticancer effects. Recently, these effects were found to be associated, at least in part, with a modulation of microRNA expression. However, the mechanisms by which single modulated microRNAs mediate the anticancer effects of metformin are not entirely clear and knowledge of such a process could be vital to maximize the potential therapeutic benefits of this safe and well-tolerated therapy. Our analysis here revealed that the expression of miR-21-5p was downregulated in multiple breast cancer cell lines treated with pharmacologically relevant doses of metformin. Interestingly, the inhibition of miR-21-5p following metformin treatment was also observed in mouse breast cancer xenografts and in sera from 96 breast cancer patients. This modulation occurred at the levels of both pri-miR-21 and pre-miR-21, suggesting transcriptional modulation. Antagomir-mediated ablation of miR-21-5p phenocopied the effects of metformin on both the clonogenicity and migration of the treated cells, while ectopic expression of miR-21-5p had the opposite effect. Mechanistically, this reduction in miR-21-5p enhanced the expression of critical upstream activators of the AMP-activated protein kinase, calcium-binding protein 39-like and Sestrin-1, leading to AMP-activated protein kinase activation and inhibition of mammalian target of rapamycin signaling. Importantly, these effects of metformin were synergistic with those of everolimus, a clinically relevant mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor, and were independent of the phosphatase and tensin homolog status. This highlights the potential relevance of metformin in combinatorial settings for the treatment of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio Pulito
- Molecular Chemoprevention Unit, Italian National Cancer Institute ‘Regina Elena’, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Mori
- Molecular Chemoprevention Unit, Italian National Cancer Institute ‘Regina Elena’, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Sacconi
- Oncogenomic and Epigenetic Unit, Italian National Cancer Institute ‘Regina Elena’, Rome, Italy
| | - Frauke Goeman
- Oncogenomic and Epigenetic Unit, Italian National Cancer Institute ‘Regina Elena’, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Ferraiuolo
- Molecular Chemoprevention Unit, Italian National Cancer Institute ‘Regina Elena’, Rome, Italy
| | - Patrizia Pasanisi
- Department of Preventive & Predictive Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Carlo Campagnoli
- Unit of Endocrinological Gynecology, Ospedale Sant’Anna di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Franco Berrino
- Department of Preventive & Predictive Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Rebecca J Ford
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Massimo Levrero
- Epigénétique et Épigénomique des Carcinomes Hépathocellulaires Viro-Induits du Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Natalia Pediconi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Ludovica Ciuffreda
- Division of Medical Oncology A, Italian National Cancer Institute ‘Regina Elena’, Rome, Italy
| | - Michele Milella
- Division of Medical Oncology A, Italian National Cancer Institute ‘Regina Elena’, Rome, Italy
| | - Gregory R Steinberg
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mario Cioce
- Oncogenomic and Epigenetic Unit, Italian National Cancer Institute ‘Regina Elena’, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Muti
- Department of Oncology, Juravinski Cancer Center, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sabrina Strano
- Molecular Chemoprevention Unit, Italian National Cancer Institute ‘Regina Elena’, Rome, Italy
- Department of Oncology, Juravinski Cancer Center, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Giovanni Blandino
- Oncogenomic and Epigenetic Unit, Italian National Cancer Institute ‘Regina Elena’, Rome, Italy
- Department of Oncology, Juravinski Cancer Center, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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13
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Guerrieri F, Belloni L, D'Andrea D, Pediconi N, Le Pera L, Testoni B, Scisciani C, Floriot O, Zoulim F, Tramontano A, Levrero M. Genome-wide identification of direct HBx genomic targets. BMC Genomics 2017; 18:184. [PMID: 28212627 PMCID: PMC5316204 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-017-3561-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2016] [Accepted: 02/07/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) HBx regulatory protein is required for HBV replication and involved in HBV-related carcinogenesis. HBx interacts with chromatin modifying enzymes and transcription factors to modulate histone post-translational modifications and to regulate viral cccDNA transcription and cellular gene expression. Aiming to identify genes and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) directly targeted by HBx, we performed a chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-Seq) to analyse HBV recruitment on host cell chromatin in cells replicating HBV. Results ChIP-Seq high throughput sequencing of HBx-bound fragments was used to obtain a high-resolution, unbiased, mapping of HBx binding sites across the genome in HBV replicating cells. Protein-coding genes and ncRNAs involved in cell metabolism, chromatin dynamics and cancer were enriched among HBx targets together with genes/ncRNAs known to modulate HBV replication. The direct transcriptional activation of genes/miRNAs that potentiate endocytosis (Ras-related in brain (RAB) GTPase family) and autophagy (autophagy related (ATG) genes, beclin-1, miR-33a) and the transcriptional repression of microRNAs (miR-138, miR-224, miR-576, miR-596) that directly target the HBV pgRNA and would inhibit HBV replication, contribute to HBx-mediated increase of HBV replication. Conclusions Our ChIP-Seq analysis of HBx genome wide chromatin recruitment defined the repertoire of genes and ncRNAs directly targeted by HBx and led to the identification of new mechanisms by which HBx positively regulates cccDNA transcription and HBV replication. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-017-3561-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Guerrieri
- Center for Life NanoScience@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Regina Elena 291, Rome, 00161, Italy
| | - Laura Belloni
- Center for Life NanoScience@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Regina Elena 291, Rome, 00161, Italy
| | - Daniel D'Andrea
- Biocomputing Lab, Department of Physics, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Natalia Pediconi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Viale Regina Elena 291, Rome, 00161, Italy
| | - Loredana Le Pera
- Center for Life NanoScience@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Regina Elena 291, Rome, 00161, Italy.,Biocomputing Lab, Department of Physics, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Barbara Testoni
- INSERM U1052, Cancer Research Center of Lyon (CRCL), 151 cours Albert Thomas, Lyon, 69424, France
| | - Cecilia Scisciani
- Department of Internal Medicine - DMISM, Sapienza University, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Oceane Floriot
- INSERM U1052, Cancer Research Center of Lyon (CRCL), 151 cours Albert Thomas, Lyon, 69424, France
| | - Fabien Zoulim
- INSERM U1052, Cancer Research Center of Lyon (CRCL), 151 cours Albert Thomas, Lyon, 69424, France
| | - Anna Tramontano
- Center for Life NanoScience@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Regina Elena 291, Rome, 00161, Italy.,Biocomputing Lab, Department of Physics, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.,Istituto Pasteur Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Viale Regina Elena 291, Rome, 00161, Italy
| | - Massimo Levrero
- Center for Life NanoScience@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Regina Elena 291, Rome, 00161, Italy. .,INSERM U1052, Cancer Research Center of Lyon (CRCL), 151 cours Albert Thomas, Lyon, 69424, France. .,Department of Internal Medicine - DMISM, Sapienza University, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy. .,Cancer Research Center of Lyon (CRCL) - INSERM U1052, 151 cours Albert Thomas, 69424, Lyon Cedex 03, France.
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14
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Nunn ADG, Scopigno T, Pediconi N, Levrero M, Hagman H, Kiskis J, Enejder A. Erratum: The histone deacetylase inhibiting drug Entinostat induces lipid accumulation in differentiated HepaRG cells. Sci Rep 2016; 6:37204. [PMID: 27892955 PMCID: PMC5125356 DOI: 10.1038/srep37204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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15
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16
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Palumbo GA, Scisciani C, Pediconi N, Lupacchini L, Alfaiate D, Guerrieri F, Calvo L, Salerno D, Di Cocco S, Levrero M, Belloni L. Correction: IL6 Inhibits HBV Transcription by Targeting the Epigenetic Control of the Nuclear cccDNA Minichromosome. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0145555. [PMID: 26673164 PMCID: PMC4684504 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0145555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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17
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Costanzo A, Pediconi N, Narcisi A, Guerrieri F, Belloni L, Fausti F, Botti E, Levrero M. TP63 and TP73 in cancer, an unresolved "family" puzzle of complexity, redundancy and hierarchy. FEBS Lett 2014; 588:2590-9. [PMID: 24983500 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2014.06.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2014] [Revised: 06/16/2014] [Accepted: 06/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
TP53 belongs to a small gene family that includes, in mammals, two additional paralogs, TP63 and TP73. The p63 and p73 proteins are structurally and functionally similar to p53 and their activity as transcription factors is regulated by a wide repertoire of shared and unique post-translational modifications and interactions with regulatory cofactors. p63 and p73 have important functions in embryonic development and differentiation but are also involved in tumor suppression. The biology of p63 and p73 is complex since both TP63 and TP73 genes are transcribed into a variety of different isoforms that give rise to proteins with antagonistic properties, the TA-isoforms that act as tumor-suppressors and DN-isoforms that behave as proto-oncogenes. The p53 family as a whole behaves as a signaling "network" that integrates developmental, metabolic and stress signals to control cell metabolism, differentiation, longevity, proliferation and death. Despite the progress of our knowledge, the unresolved puzzle of complexity, redundancy and hierarchy in the p53 family continues to represent a formidable challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Costanzo
- Dermatology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Sensory Organs (NESMOS), Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Natalia Pediconi
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy; Center for Life Nanosciences (CNLS) - IIT/Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Narcisi
- Dermatology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Sensory Organs (NESMOS), Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Guerrieri
- Center for Life Nanosciences (CNLS) - IIT/Sapienza, Rome, Italy; Laboratory of Gene Expression, Department of Internal Medicine (DMISM), Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Belloni
- Center for Life Nanosciences (CNLS) - IIT/Sapienza, Rome, Italy; Laboratory of Gene Expression, Department of Internal Medicine (DMISM), Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Fausti
- Dermatology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Sensory Organs (NESMOS), Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Botti
- Dermatology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Sensory Organs (NESMOS), Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Levrero
- Center for Life Nanosciences (CNLS) - IIT/Sapienza, Rome, Italy; Laboratory of Gene Expression, Department of Internal Medicine (DMISM), Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
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18
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Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) contributes to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development through direct and indirect mechanisms. HBV-DNA integration into the host genome occurs at early steps of clonal tumor expansion and induces both genomic instability and direct insertional mutagenesis of diverse cancer-related genes. Prolonged expression of the viral regulatory protein HBx and the large envelope protein deregulate the cellular transcription program and proliferation control and sensitize liver cells to carcinogenic factors. Epigenetic changes targeting the expression of tumor suppressor genes occur early in the development of HCC. A major role is played by HBx that is recruited on cellular chromatin and modulates chromatin dynamics at specific gene loci. Compared with tumors associated with other risk factors, HBV-related tumors have a higher rate of chromosomal alterations and p53 inactivation by mutations, overexpress fetal liver/hepatic progenitor cells genes, and show a specific activation of the AKT pathway. The wnt/β-catenin pathway is also often activated, but HBV-related tumors display a low rate of activating β-catenin mutations. All available evidence strongly supports the notion that chronic HBV infection triggers both common and etiology-specific oncogenic pathways, thus playing a direct role beyond stimulation of host immune responses and chronic necroinflammatory liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Guerrieri
- Department of Internal Medicine, DMISM and Sapienza Life Nanoscience Laboratory, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
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19
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Scisciani C, Vossio S, Guerrieri F, Schinzari V, De Iaco R, D'Onorio de Meo P, Cervello M, Montalto G, Pollicino T, Raimondo G, Levrero M, Pediconi N. Transcriptional regulation of miR-224 upregulated in human HCCs by NFκB inflammatory pathways. J Hepatol 2012; 56:855-61. [PMID: 22178270 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2011.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2011] [Revised: 10/18/2011] [Accepted: 11/11/2011] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS miR-224 is up-regulated in human HCCs as compared to both paired peri-tumoral cirrhotic tissues and cirrhotic livers without HCC. Here, we have cloned the miR-224 regulatory region and characterized its transcriptional regulation by the NFκB-dependent inflammatory pathways. METHODS Mature miRNA expression was evaluated by a 2 step stem-loop real-time RT-PCR. The recruitment of polymerase II and transcription factors on the pre-miR-224 promoter has been assessed by ChIPSeq and ChIP. RESULTS We found miR-224 levels strongly up-regulated in both peri-tumoral cirrhotic livers and HCC samples as compared to normal livers. In silico analysis of the putative miR-224 promoter revealed multiple NFκB sites. We showed that LTα and TNFα activate transcription from the miR-224 promoter and of endogenous miR-224 expression in HCC cell lines, whereas the expression of miR-224 target API5 was reduced. Exogenously expressed p65/RelA activates the miR-224 promoter and a dominant negative form of IκBα (IκBSR) represses it. ChIP analysis showed that p65/NFκB is recruited on the miR-224 promoter and that its binding sharply increases after exposure to LPS, TNFα, and LTα. Altogether these findings link the inflammatory signals to NFκB-mediated activation of miR-224 expression. An antago-miR specific for miR-224 blocked LPS and LTα stimulated HCC cells migration and invasion. Conversely, the IKK inhibitor BMS-345541 blocks pre-miR-224-induced cellular migration and invasion. CONCLUSIONS Our results identify p65/NFκB as a direct transcriptional regulator of miR-224 expression and link miR-224 up-regulation with the activation of the LPS, LTα, and TNFα inflammatory pathways and cell migration/invasion in HCC.
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Belloni L, Allweiss L, Guerrieri F, Pediconi N, Volz T, Pollicino T, Petersen J, Raimondo G, Dandri M, Levrero M. IFN-α inhibits HBV transcription and replication in cell culture and in humanized mice by targeting the epigenetic regulation of the nuclear cccDNA minichromosome. J Clin Invest 2012; 122:529-37. [PMID: 22251702 DOI: 10.1172/jci58847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 443] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2011] [Accepted: 11/09/2011] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
HBV infection remains a leading cause of death worldwide. IFN-α inhibits viral replication in vitro and in vivo, and pegylated IFN-α is a commonly administered treatment for individuals infected with HBV. The HBV genome contains a typical IFN-stimulated response element (ISRE), but the molecular mechanisms by which IFN-α suppresses HBV replication have not been established in relevant experimental systems. Here, we show that IFN-α inhibits HBV replication by decreasing the transcription of pregenomic RNA (pgRNA) and subgenomic RNA from the HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) minichromosome, both in cultured cells in which HBV is replicating and in mice whose livers have been repopulated with human hepatocytes and infected with HBV. Administration of IFN-α resulted in cccDNA-bound histone hypoacetylation as well as active recruitment to the cccDNA of transcriptional corepressors. IFN-α treatment also reduced binding of the STAT1 and STAT2 transcription factors to active cccDNA. The inhibitory activity of IFN-α was linked to the IRSE, as IRSE-mutant HBV transcribed less pgRNA and could not be repressed by IFN-α treatment. Our results identify a molecular mechanism whereby IFN-α mediates epigenetic repression of HBV cccDNA transcriptional activity, which may assist in the development of novel effective therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Belloni
- EAL Inserm U785, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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21
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Levrero M, Belloni L, Guerrieri F, Pediconi N. CS7.3 cccDNA function and HBV replication. Int J Infect Dis 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/s1201-9712(11)60027-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022] Open
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22
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Pollicino T, Belloni L, Raffa G, Pediconi N, Squadrito G, Raimondo G, Levrero M. Hepatitis B virus replication is regulated by the acetylation status of hepatitis B virus cccDNA-bound H3 and H4 histones. Gastroenterology 2006; 130:823-37. [PMID: 16530522 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2006.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 341] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2005] [Accepted: 11/16/2005] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), the replicative intermediate responsible for persistent HBV infection of hepatocytes, is the template for transcription of all viral mRNAs. Nuclear cccDNA accumulates as a stable episome organized into minichromosomes by histone and nonhistone proteins. In this study we investigated, by a newly developed sensitive and specific assay, the relationship between viral replication and HBV chromatin assembly, transcription, and interaction with viral and cellular regulatory proteins. METHODS To achieve this aim we coupled a quantitative chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) technique to an established method that allows the amplification of virion-encapsidated HBV genomes after transfection of linear HBV DNA into human hepatoma HuH7 cells. The cccDNA-ChIP technique was also applied to study HBV minichromosome transcriptional regulation in liver tissue from HBV-infected patients. RESULTS The use of anti-acetyl-H4/-H3 specific antibodies to immunoprecipitate transcriptionally active chromatin revealed that HBV replication is regulated by the acetylation status of the cccDNA-bound H3/H4 histones. Class I histone deacetylases inhibitors induced an evident increase of both cccDNA-bound acetylated H4 and HBV replication. Finally, histones hypoacetylation and histone deacetylase 1 recruitment onto the cccDNA in liver tissue correlated with low HBV viremia in hepatitis B patients. CONCLUSIONS We developed a ChIP-based assay to analyze, in vitro and ex vivo, the transcriptional regulation of HBV cccDNA minichromosome. Our results provide new insights on the regulation of HBV replication and identify the enzymatic activities that modulate the acetylation of cccDNA-bound histones as new therapeutic targets for anti-HBV drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Pollicino
- Laboratory of Gene Expression, Fondazione A. Cesalpino, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
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23
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Strano S, Monti O, Pediconi N, Baccarini A, Fontemaggi G, Lapi E, Mantovani F, Damalas A, Citro G, Sacchi A, Del Sal G, Levrero M, Blandino G. The Transcriptional Coactivator Yes-Associated Protein Drives p73 Gene-Target Specificity in Response to DNA Damage. Mol Cell 2005. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2005.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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24
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Strano S, Monti O, Pediconi N, Baccarini A, Fontemaggi G, Lapi E, Mantovani F, Damalas A, Citro G, Sacchi A, Del Sal G, Levrero M, Blandino G. The transcriptional coactivator Yes-associated protein drives p73 gene-target specificity in response to DNA Damage. Mol Cell 2005; 18:447-59. [PMID: 15893728 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2005.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 287] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2004] [Revised: 07/22/2004] [Accepted: 04/08/2005] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The transcriptional coactivator Yes-associated protein (YAP) has been shown to interact with and to enhance p73-dependent apoptosis in response to DNA damage. Here, we show that YAP requires the promyelocytic leukemia gene (PML) and nuclear body localization to coactivate p73. YAP imparts selectivity to p73 by promoting the activation of a subset of p53 and/or p73 target promoters. Endogenous p73, YAP, and p300 proteins are concomitantly recruited onto the regulatory regions of the apoptotic target gene p53AIP1 only when cells are exposed to apoptotic conditions. Silencing of YAP by specific siRNA impairs p300 recruitment and reduces histone acetylation on the p53AIP1 target gene, resulting in delayed or reduced apoptosis mediated by p73. We also found that YAP contributes to the DNA damage-induced accumulation of p73 and potentiates the p300-mediated acetylation of p73. Altogether, our findings identify YAP as a key determinant of p73 gene targeting in response to DNA damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Strano
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Regina Elena Cancer Institute, 00158 Rome, Italy
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Thompson PR, Wang D, Wang L, Fulco M, Pediconi N, Zhang D, An W, Ge Q, Roeder RG, Wong J, Levrero M, Sartorelli V, Cotter RJ, Cole PA. Regulation of the p300 HAT domain via a novel activation loop. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2004; 11:308-15. [PMID: 15004546 DOI: 10.1038/nsmb740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 331] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2003] [Accepted: 01/28/2004] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The transcriptional coactivator p300 is a histone acetyltransferase (HAT) whose function is critical for regulating gene expression in mammalian cells. However, the molecular events that regulate p300 HAT activity are poorly understood. We evaluated autoacetylation of the p300 HAT protein domain to determine its function. Using expressed protein ligation, the p300 HAT protein domain was generated in hypoacetylated form and found to have reduced catalytic activity. This basal catalytic rate was stimulated by autoacetylation of several key lysine sites within an apparent activation loop motif. This post-translational modification and catalytic regulation of p300 HAT activity is conceptually analogous to the activation of most protein kinases by autophosphorylation. We therefore propose that this autoregulatory loop could influence the impact of p300 on a wide variety of signaling and transcriptional events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul R Thompson
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA
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26
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Pediconi N, Ianari A, Costanzo A, Belloni L, Gallo R, Cimino L, Porcellini A, Screpanti I, Balsano C, Alesse E, Gulino A, Levrero M. Differential regulation of E2F1 apoptotic target genes in response to DNA damage. Nat Cell Biol 2003; 5:552-8. [PMID: 12766778 DOI: 10.1038/ncb998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 210] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2002] [Accepted: 03/25/2003] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
E2F1, a member of the E2F family of transcription factors, in addition to its established proliferative effect, has also been implicated in the induction of apoptosis through p53-dependent and p53-independent pathways. Several genes involved in the activation or execution of the apoptotic programme have recently been shown to be upregulated at the transcriptional level by E2F1 overexpression, including the genes encoding INK4a/ARF, Apaf-1, caspase 7 and p73 (refs 3-5). E2F1 is stabilized in response to DNA damage but it has not been established how this translates into the activation of specific subsets of E2F target genes. Here, we applied a chromatin immunoprecipitation approach to show that, in response to DNA damage, E2F1 is directed from cell cycle progression to apoptotic E2F target genes. We identify p73 as an important E2F1 apoptotic target gene in DNA damage response and we show that acetylation is required for E2F1 recruitment on the P1p73 promoter and for its transcriptional activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Pediconi
- Laboratory of Gene Expression, Fondazione Andrea Cesalpino, University of Rome La Sapienza, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy
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27
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Vossio S, Palescandolo E, Pediconi N, Moretti F, Balsano C, Levrero M, Costanzo A. DN-p73 is activated after DNA damage in a p53-dependent manner to regulate p53-induced cell cycle arrest. Oncogene 2002; 21:3796-803. [PMID: 12032848 DOI: 10.1038/sj.onc.1205465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2001] [Revised: 02/02/2002] [Accepted: 03/12/2002] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
p53 and p73 genes are both activated in response to DNA damage to induce either cell cycle arrest or apoptosis, depending on the strength and the quality of the damaging stimulus. p53/p73 transcriptional activity must be tightly regulated to ensure that the appropriate biological response is achieved and to allow the cell to re-enter into the cell cycle after the damage has been repaired. In addition to multiple transcriptionally active (TA) isoforms, dominant negative (DN) variants, that lack the amino-terminal transactivation domain and function as trans-repressors of p53, p63 and p73, are expressed from a second internal promoter (P2-p73Pr). Here we show that, in response to a non apoptotic DNA damage induced by low doses of doxorubicin, p53 binds in vivo, as detected by a p53-specific chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, and activates the P2-p73 promoter. DN-p73alpha protein accumulates under the same conditions and exogenously expressed DN-p73alpha is able to counteract the p53-induced activation of the P2-p73Pr. These results suggest that DN-p73 may contribute to the autoregulatory loops responsible for the termination of p53/p73 responses in cells that do not undergo apoptosis. Accordingly, the activation of the P2-p73Pr is markedly enhanced in both p73-/- murine fibroblasts and in human cells in which p73 transcripts are selectively knocked-out by p73-specific small interfering RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Vossio
- Laboratory of Gene Expression, Fondazione Andrea Cesalpino, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
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28
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Costanzo A, Merlo P, Pediconi N, Fulco M, Sartorelli V, Cole PA, Fontemaggi G, Fanciulli M, Schiltz L, Blandino G, Balsano C, Levrero M. DNA damage-dependent acetylation of p73 dictates the selective activation of apoptotic target genes. Mol Cell 2002; 9:175-86. [PMID: 11804596 DOI: 10.1016/s1097-2765(02)00431-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 251] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The tumor suppressor p53 and its close relative p73 are activated in response to DNA damage resulting in either cell cycle arrest or apoptosis. Here, we show that DNA damage induces the acetylation of p73 by the acetyltransferase p300. Inhibiting the enzymatic activity of p300 hampers apoptosis in a p53(-/-) background. Furthermore, a nonacetylatable p73 is defective in activating transcription of the proapoptotic p53AIP1 gene but retains an intact ability to regulate other targets such as p21. Finally, p300-mediated acetylation of p73 requires the protooncogene c-abl. Our results suggest that DNA damage-induced acetylation potentiates the apoptotic function of p73 by enhancing the ability of p73 to selectively activate the transcription of proapoptotic target genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Costanzo
- Laboratory of Gene Expression, Fondazione Andrea Cesalpino, University of Rome La Sapienza, 00161, Rome, Italy
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